Principles of Blood Transfusion

The aim of this chapter is to present a revised overview of small and large animal transfusion medicine based on a review of the veterinary literature. Blood transfusion has become more performable in small and large animal practice. By donor selection and the availability of blood component substitutes, usage of the blood products improved. The use of blood component therapy safely needed knowledge of blood groups, antibody prevalence and the impact of blood groups on veterinary transfusion medicine. Animal blood transfusions antibodies against blood group antigens also play a role. In addition knowledge of the means to decrease the risk of adverse reactions by using proper donors and screening assays that simplify detection of serological incompatibility is important. The clinical significance of blood group antigens in veterinary medicine is generally in the areas of transfusion reactions and neonatal isoerythrolysis (NI). This chapter includes an update on canine and feline, horse, donkey, cattle, sheep, gaot, pig, llama and alpaca blood groups and known blood incompatibilities, donor selection and blood collection, storage of blood components, available equine blood products and indications for transfusion, whole blood (WB) and blood product transfusion in ruminants and camelids, blood component and blood substitute therapy, administration, and adverse reactions in small and large animal blood transfusion.